Innovative lightweight substrate for stable optical benches and mirrors

E. Rugi Grond; A. Herren; S. Mérillat; J.J. Fermé

doi:10.1117/12.2308250

21 November 2017 Innovative lightweight substrate for stable optical benches and mirrors

E. Rugi Grond, A. Herren, S. Mérillat, J.J. Fermé

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Proceedings Volume 10566, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2008; 105661X (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2308250
Event: International Conference on Space Optics 2008, 2008, Toulouse, France

Abstract

High precision space optics, such as spectrometers, relay optics, and filters, require ultra stable, lightweight platforms. These equipped platforms have on one side to survive the launch loads, on the other side they have to maintain their stability also under the varying thermal loads occurring in space. Typically such platforms have their equipment (prisms, etalons, beam expanders, etc.) mounted by means of classical bonding, hydro-catalytic bonding or optical contacting. Therefore such an optical bench requires to provide an excellent flatness, minimal roughness and is usually made of the same material as the equipment it carries (glass, glass ceramics).

For space systems, mass is a big penalty, therefore such optical platforms are in most cases light weighted by means of machining features (i.e. pockets). Besides of being not extremely mass efficient, such pockets reduce the load carrying capability of the base material significantly.

The challenge for Oerlikon Space, in this context, was to develop, qualify and deliver such optical benches, providing a substantial mass reduction compared to actual light weighted systems, while maintaining most of the full load carrying capacity of the base material.

Additionally such a substrate can find an attractive application for mirror substrates. The results of the first development and of the first test results will be presented.

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E. Rugi Grond, A. Herren, S. Mérillat, and J.J. Fermé "Innovative lightweight substrate for stable optical benches and mirrors", Proc. SPIE 10566, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2008, 105661X (21 November 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2308250

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